LAURINBURG, N.C. -  Senior infielder Alexander Humphrey cracked a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning of the first game of Saturday's doubleheader versus St. Andrews, but the Knights came back to walk off at Clark Field. In game two, USCB totaled four runs in the first three innings of to fend off the Knights' comeback, 4-3, and salve second straight split.

INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Humphrey - 2-for-4, three-run home run

Hunter McKown - 1-for-1, single, RBI, run

Kyran Russ - 1-for-1, run, two walks

Payton MacPherson - six innings, six hits, one earned run, eight strikeouts

HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED

St. Andrews opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with a pair of runs off one hit and one error. Noah Lawson and Greg Izzo scored via a Sand Shark fielding error, which put the Knights up, 2-0.

Following a scoreless second, SAU added an additional run in the home-half of the third. J.R. Polak plated Lawson to advance the lead to three, 3-0.

For the next three frame, USCB's offense was able to get a pair of runners on base via a Russ walk in the fourth and a Leandy Castro single in the fifth. The Sand Sharks couldn't capitalize, though, as the game remained 3-0 heading into the seventh.

At the top of the seventh, USCB's offense exploded for four runs to give it the 4-3 lead. Russ started the rally with a single. After a throwing error, Russ went to third to put two Sand Sharks on base with no outs. McKown collected a single down the left field line to score USCB's first run. After a pitching change and a strikeout, Humphrey uncorked on his first home run of the year to give USCB the 4-3 lead. 

Unfortunately for USCB, its first lead of the contest quickly disappeared, as the Knights walked off in the bottom of the seventh to win the game, 5-4. Jaxon Snider came up with the game-winning, bloop hit for SAU.

INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Wesley Ambrose - 2-for-3, double, run, walk, stolen base

Hagan Alberson - 1-for-3, single, 

Justin Owen - 1-for-1, single

Donavan Huneck - 4.1 innings, six hits, three runs, one walk, six strikeouts, win

Jacob Judy - 1.2 innings, two hits, no runs, no walks

Eamonn Collins - one inning, one hit, no walks, two strikeouts, save

HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED

USCB's four-run seventh inning carried over into the first inning of the second game, as the Sand Sharks tallied three runs. In fact, it is the first time this year USCB has scored a run in the first inning. The Sand Sharks only had one hit in the inning, but thanks to a pair of errors, USCB plated three runs to take the 3-0 lead. USCB had a chance to add more runs, but the Sand Sharks left the bases loaded. 

MacPherson started the game red hot, as the transfer from Limestone scattered two hits and struck out four in the first three innings. 

With a three-run cushion, the Sand Sharks added a pivotal run in the top of the third when Clint Sellers scored on Jack Slavin's ground out. 

The Knights cut into the Sand Shark lead in the bottom of the fourth, as they tallied two runs off two hits. Lawson was responsible for both runs, as he collected a RBI and also touched home in the frame.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, SAU made it a one-run game, 4-3, as Kris Allen tallied a run-scoring double. 

USCB tried to respond in the sixth, as two runners reached base with two outs. However, they were left stranded. 

Similar to USCB, the Knights had a strong chance to plate runs in the sixth with two outs. However, Judy stayed confident and stranded two Knights on the bases. 

Coming in for the save opportunity, Collins had to make stressful pitches, as SAU put the game-tying run on third with two outs. However, Collins forced Polak to fly out to seal the one-run win, 4-3. 

TEAM RECORD UPDATES

USCB - 3-3 overall

St. Andrews - 2-2 overall

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Sand Sharks will face in-state NAIA rival Columbia International on Tuesday, Feb. 9. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at Richard Gray Stadium, and it will be a nine-inning contest versus the Rams.